Luke Part 1 Week 20

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 5:1-3 

¹ One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. ² He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. ³ Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 

When Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, many people wanted to hear what He had to say. Seeing two empty boats, He stepped into the boat of Simon Peter. That Peter was the owner indicates he was a professional fisherman. Jesus asked him to push out from the shore, then He sat in the boat and taught the crowds.  

REFLECT 

What would you have thought if Jesus asked to use what you own so He could speak to others? In reality, He indwells believers and wants to show His glory through them. 

RESPOND  

Visit with a friend about how Jesus wants to use believers to show who He is through their lives. It was unknown in the Old Testament that Jesus would indwell believers during the Church age so it was called a “mystery.” That mystery was revealed in the New Testament (see Colossians 1:26-27).  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 5:4 

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 

This records Jesus telling Peter who fished for a living that he should fish in a specific area. Surely Peter would know the best place to catch fish. It is an example of Jesus sometimes asking believers to do what they think is unreasonable. Does one obey or not? 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes thought that what Jesus wants you to do, as mentioned in the Bible, is something you think unreasonable or you are unable to do? 

RESPOND  

Visit with a friend about what Jesus has told His followers to do in Matthew 5:43-44. How can you love your enemies? The word for “love” here is one that involves an act of the will, not of the emotions. It means to seek the other person’s highest good. You can at least pray they will see their need to repent and turn to Jesus. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 5:5-7 

⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” ⁶ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! ⁷ A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 

This is Peter’s reply to Jesus who told him where to fish. This master fisherman explained they had “worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing.” Peter respected Jesus, however, and agreed to fish where He had suggested. Nets became full and Peter shouted for help from his partners. “[S]oon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.” 

REFLECT 

Have you also found when you obey the Lord you experience abundant blessings? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about doing the Lord’s will. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that mentions God’s will for believers. How does one do this? Only by believing what Romans 8:28 says. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 5:8-11 

⁸ When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” ⁹ For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. ¹⁰ His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” ¹¹ And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. 

Peter recognized that what had just occurred was a miracle Jesus had performed. Peter realized his own sinfulness and asked Jesus to leave him. Peter’s business partners were also amazed at the miracle. Jesus explained that in the future Peter and his partners would be fishing for people, not fish. Fishing had been their occupation, but they “left everything and followed Jesus.” 

REFLECT 

Jesus doesn’t call everyone to leave their occupation, but His followers are called to fish for people. Are you spiritually fishing for people? 

RESPOND 

Notice the commands Jesus gave His followers in Matthew 28:18-20. Think about each command and ask yourself if you and your church group are obeying these commands. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 5:12 

¹² In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 

Jesus had healed others by touching them. What would He do now? Lepers had to call out “unclean” so no one would come close and touch them. This leper had confidence that if Jesus was willing He could heal him and make him clean. Such a person would no longer be an outcast in society. 

REFLECT 

Have you faced circumstances in which you knew Jesus could help if He chose to do so? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the topic of healing. God has the ability to heal anyone and gave the apostles this ability as a sign gift (see 2 Corinthians 12:12). But even the apostles did not heal everyone (see 2 Timothy 4:20). Christ-followers need to leave in His hands what is the sovereign choice of their God and Savior.